Colder conditions don’t slow opportunities for anglers

Originally published December 4, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Updated December 4, 2013 at 10:31 pm

Don’t let the frigid weather get in the way of hooking into some decent fishing opportunities.

In southwest Washington, state Fish and Wildlife planted six lakes with thousands of trout for their “Black Friday” event, which lured plenty of anglers who found good action.

“A lot of people took advantage of the trout fishing during the holiday,” said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. “The fish were biting although as the water cools down it may be slower, but this will provide some opportunity for a while.”

In the Puget Sound region, 25 lakes were planted in late October with about 60,000 trout. More details:http://1.usa.gov/1gusSdq

Coastal razor clam digging was excellent in between the stormy weather this past week, and Twin Harbors is open Thursday through Saturday during evening low tides only.

Additional digs are planned Dec. 14 and Dec. 29-31 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks; Dec. 15-16 at Long Beach, Twin Harbor and Mocrocks; and Dec. 17-18 at Twin Harbors.

Some areas of central Puget Sound have been fair to good for winter hatchery Chinook, mainly off Shil­shole Bay, Jefferson Head, Southworth, Manchester and Allen Bank off Blake Island.

The shoreline chum fishery off Hoodsport in Hood Canal was still pretty good, and 10 anglers Sunday hooked 21 fish. Perry Creek estuary in Eld Inlet was good for chum fishing, and the bite had slowed down off the estuaries at Kennedy Creek in Totten Inlet, McLane Creek near Olympia and Chico Creek in Dyes Inlet.

The outdoors is happening indoors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday with a steelhead seminar at Three Rivers Marine and Tackle, 24300 Woodinville-Snohomish Road in Woodinville. Guides Bob Ball and Mike Perusse; Duane Inglin of Pautzke Bait, and Ryley Fee, Gary B. Owner and John Bandurraga will offer fishing tips. RSVP to Kent@3riversmarine.com

Fishing Report

Location

Comment

Statewide lakes

Blackman’s and Goodwin lakes in Snohomish County are fair to good for trout. Fair for cutthroat in Lake Washington and Sammamish. Fair for perch in Lake Washington off the docks at Mount Baker, Leschi, Kenmore, Madison Park, Renton and Seward Park. Green Lake in North Seattle is fair for trout. Good in Lake Roosevelt for trout.

Biting: YesRating:

Statewide rivers

Fair for steelhead in the Lower Skykomish, Reiter Ponds in the Upper Skykomish, Chehalis, Satsop and Wynoochee, and on the northern coast in the Lower Calawah, Bogachiel, Quinault, Salmon and Queets. Fair in the Cowlitz and Washougal for steelhead and a few late coho. North Fork Lewis boat angling worth a try for Chinook. Fair for chinook, chum or coho in the Humptulips and Clearwater.

Biting: YesRating:

Marine areas

Off and on for smelt jigging at the Cornet Bay Pier on North Whidbey Island, and the Oak Harbor Marina. Slow to fair for hatchery Chinook off Camano Head, Elger Bay and Saratoga Pass. Slow to fair for squid off Edmonds, Des Moines and Seattle waterfront piers. Spotty for hatchery Chinook off Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, and the Narrows area. Slow for steelhead off the beaches on the west side of Whidbey Island at Bush and Lagoon points.